Trematode genetic patterns at host individual and population scales provide insights about infection mechanisms.

Multiple parasites can infect a single host, creating a dynamic environment where each parasite must compete over host resources. Such interactions can cause greater harm to the host than single infections and can also have negative consequences for the parasites themselves. In their first intermediate hosts, trematodes multiply asexually and can eventually reach up to 20% of the host's biomass. In most species, it is unclear whether this biomass results from a single infection or co-infection by 2 or more infective stages (miracidia), the latter being more likely a priori in areas where prevalence of infection is high. Using as model system the trematode Bucephalus minimus and its first intermediate host cockles, we examined the genetic diversity of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I region in B. minimus from 3 distinct geographical areas and performed a phylogeographic study of B. minimus populations along the Northeast Atlantic coast. Within localities, the high genetic variability found across trematodes infecting different individual cockles, compared to the absence of variability within the same host, suggests that infections could be generally originating from a single miracidium. On a large spatial scale, we uncovered significant population structure of B. minimus, specifically between the north and south of Bay of Biscay. Although other explanations are possible, we suggest this pattern may be driven by the population structure of the final host.

Decline of Marteilia cochillia in Ría de Arousa may be due to increased resistance in host Cerastoderma edule.

A huge, unprecedented mortality of cockle Cerastoderma edule caused by the protist Marteilia cochillia, which had never before been detected in Galicia (NW Spain), brought on a cockle fishery collapse in the Ría de Arousa (Galicia) in 2012. Since then, the disease dynamic pattern in the shellfish bed of Lombos do Ulla (at the inner area of that ria) involved an overwhelming annual wave of infections and subsequent cockle mass mortality that caused the near extinction of every cohort recruited to that bed. However, a pattern shift was detected among wild cohorts recruiting since 2016, with progressive declines of marteiliosis prevalence and increments in cockle survival. This suggested 2 non-exclusive hypotheses: increasing marteiliosis resistance through natural selection, and reduced abundance and/or virulence of the parasite. A field experiment was performed to assess these hypotheses by comparing marteiliosis prevalence and severity, as well as mortality, in cockles that naturally recruited to this bed in 2017 and 2018 with those of naïve cockles collected from a marteiliosis-free area and transplanted into Lombos do Ulla in 2017 and 2018. Marteiliosis prevalence and cumulative cockle mortality quickly reached very high values among the transplanted cockles, demonstrating that the parasite remained present and virulent in the area. Conversely, marteiliosis prevalence and cockle mortality were much lower in the cockles that recruited to Lombos do Ulla, suggesting increased resistance that may have been driven by natural selection. The young age at which cockles start reproduction and the very high mortality caused by marteiliosis may have enhanced natural selection.

Inertia of parasite infection versus host biomass fluctuation.

Infection by parasites with complex life cycles such as trematodes depends on many environmental factors which may result in a time-lag between host biomass fluctuations and parasite density in hosts. A cockle (marine bivalve, second intermediate host) population and its associated parasite community were monitored over 15 years. A time-shift correlation analysis suggests that trematode abundance in cockles responds to cockle biomass after a long delay (8 year time-lag). Thus, these parasites can sustainably support a deficit of their intermediate host.

Extrinsic and intrinsic drivers of parasite prevalence and parasite species richness in a marine bivalve.

Parasite species richness is influenced by a range of drivers including host related factors (e.g. host size) and environmental factors (e.g. seawater temperature). However, identification of modulators of parasite species richness remains one of the great unanswered questions in ecology. The common cockle Cerastoderma edule is renowned for its diversity and abundance of parasites, yet drivers of parasite species richness in cockles have not been examined to investigate the association of both macro and microparasite communities. Using cockles as a model species, some of the key drivers of parasite prevalence and parasite species richness were investigated. Objectives of this 19-month survey were to determine the influence of the environment, host-parasite dynamics and parasite associations on parasite species richness and prevalence at two different geographic latitudes, chosen based on environmental differences. The highest parasite species richness was recorded in the northern sites, and this was potentially influenced by a range of interactions between the host, the pathogens and the environment. Parasite prevalence increased with host size and age, and parasite species richness increased with reduced salinity. A number of interactions between parasites, and between parasites and pathologies may be influencing parasite infection dynamics. New and concerning information is also presented regarding interactions between parasites and their environment. A number of parasites and potential pathogens (bacteria, Trichodina ciliates, metacercariae, trematode sporocysts) may be advantaged under climate change conditions (warming seas, increased precipitation), increasing disease incidence, which may prove detrimental not just for cockles, but for other bivalve species in the future.

Discovery of the parasite Marteilia cocosarum sp. nov. In common cockle (Cerastoderma edule) fisheries in Wales, UK and its comparison with Marteilia cochillia.

Diseases of bivalve molluscs caused by paramyxid parasites of the genus Marteilia have been linked to mass mortalities and the collapse of commercially important shellfish populations. Until recently, no Marteilia spp. have been detected in common cockle (Cerastoderma edule) populations in the British Isles. Molecular screening of cockles from ten sites on the Welsh coast indicates that a Marteilia parasite is widespread in Welsh C. edule populations, including major fisheries. Phylogenetic analysis of ribosomal DNA (rDNA) gene sequences from this parasite indicates that it is a closely related but different species to Marteilia cochillia, a parasite linked to mass mortality of C. edule fisheries in Spain, and that both are related to Marteilia octospora, for which we provide new rDNA sequence data. Preliminary light and transmission electron microscope (TEM) observations support this conclusion, indicating that the parasite from Wales is located primarily within areas of inflammation in the gills and the connective tissue of the digestive gland, whereas M. cochillia is found mainly within the epithelium of the digestive gland. The impact of infection by the new species, here described as Marteilia cocosarum n. sp., upon Welsh fisheries is currently unknown.

How costly are metacercarial infections in a bivalve host? Effects of two trematode species on biochemical performance of cockles.

Bivalve stocks have been decreasing in the last decades largely due to emergent diseases and consequent mass mortality episodes. Cerastoderma edule (the edible cockle) is one of the most exploited bivalves in Europe and is among the most common hosts for trematodes, the most prevalent macroparasites in coastal waters but yet poorly studied. Therefore, in the present study, this bivalve species was used as host model to determine if trematode infection exerts a negative effect on bivalve energy metabolism and balance and if the tissues targeted by different trematodes influence the metabolic cost, with physiological and biochemical consequences. Cockles were experimentally infected with two trematode species, Himasthla elongata and Renicola roscovitus, that infect the foot and palps, respectively. Trematode infection exerted a negative effect on the metabolism of C. edule, the second intermediate host, by reduction of oxygen consumption. A different host biochemical response was found depending on trematode species, especially in regard to the level of oxygen consumption decrease and the preferential accumulation of lipids and glycogen. This study represents a step towards the understanding of host-trematode relationships that can be used to better predict potential conservation threats to bivalve populations and to maximize the success of stock and disease management.

Biotic and abiotic factors influencing haplosporidian species distribution in the cockle Cerastoderma edule in Ireland.

The Phylum Haplosporidia consists of four genera (Minchinia, Haplosporidium, Urosporidium and Bonamia) that are endoparasitic protists of a wide range of marine invertebrates including commercial bivalve species. Characterization of haplosporidian species remains a challenge due to their patchy spatial and temporal distributions, host-restricted occurrence, and poorly known life cycles. However, they are commonly associated with significant mortality events in bivalves. Due to the recent sporadic mortality events that have occurred in cockles in Europe, the objectives of this study were to determine the diversity, distribution and seasonality of haplosporidian species in Cerastoderma edule populations at several Irish sites. The role of abiotic (temperature, salinity and dissolved oxygen in water) and biotic (cockle size and age) factors as drivers or inhibitors of haplosporidian infection were also assessed. Cockles (n = 998) from the intertidal were sampled from April/July 2018 to April 2019 at three sites with no commercial fishing activity on the south coast (Celtic Sea) and one site on the northeast coast (Irish Sea) with an active commercial fishery. Screening of the cockles by molecular techniques (PCR, Sanger sequencing) and by histopathology was carried out. Two species were identified and confirmed in Irish C. edule for the first time, Minchinia mercenariae -like (14.8%) and Minchinia tapetis (29.6%). Similar to other haplosporidian parasites, the Minchinia spp. detected in our study were present year-round at all sites, except for M. tapetis in Youghal Bay (Celtic Sea). Coinfection of both Minchinia species was only observed in Cork Harbour (Celtic Sea) and Dundalk Bay (Irish Sea), where Minchinia spp. showed a higher presence compared to Youghal Bay and Dungarvan Harbour (Celtic Sea). Moreover, haplosporidians detected with generic primers, were present at all of the sample sites throughout the year but had a higher occurrence during the winter months and were positively correlated with dissolved oxygen. Likewise, smaller and older C.edule seemed to be more vulnerable to the haplosporidian infection. Furthermore, haplosporidian distribution displayed spatial variability between and within sample sites, with the highest presence being observed in cockles at one of the commercially fished Dundalk beds, while the lowest presence was observed in cockles at the second Dundalk bed that was more influenced by freshwater runoff when the tide was out. Findings from this study provide additional information on the distribution and seasonal presence of novel haplosporidian species and their potential abiotic and biotic drivers/inhibitors of infection.

Monorchis parvus and Gymnophallus choledochus: two trematode species infecting cockles as first and second intermediate host.

The most deleterious stage of a trematode life cycle occurs in the first intermediate host where the parasite penetrates as a miracidium and asexually multiplicates in sporocysts or rediae. When infection advances, other organs can be occupied with severe effects on host individual health and population dynamics. Existing studies focused on these host/parasite systems are still scarce due to the usual low prevalence in ecosystems. Using cockles (Cerastoderma spp.) and two trematode species (Monorchis parvus and Gymnophallus choledochus) infecting these bivalves as first and second intermediate host, the present work aimed to (1) summarize the most relevant literature and (2) provide new information regarding this host/parasite system, taking advantage of a 21-year monthly database from Banc d'Arguin (France). This long-term monitoring showed that different trematode species display varying host size range preference (6-38 and 31-36 mm for M. parvus and G. choledochus, respectively). The occurrence of coinfection was lower than expected, raising some questions related to parasite interspecific competition. This review improved our understanding of the processes shaping the prevalence and distribution of parasitism. This study highlighted that beyond constant trematode assemblage monitoring, there is a need to identify the main predictors of rediae/sporocysts infection, such as the definitive host dynamics and miracidium infection processes, for future better management of host severe disease and mortality episodes.

Marteilia cochillia is released into seawater via cockle Cerastoderma edule faeces.

Outbreaks of Marteilia cochillia have caused massive mortalities of common cockle, Cerastoderma edule, in some natural beds in Galicia (NW Spain) since 2012. The life cycle of Marteilia spp. is still unresolved and the most accepted hypothesis suggests that an additional host is involved. Researchers have assumed that sporangia are shed into the environment in the faeces, but details about this process have not been reported previously. Here, we report the massive liberation of Marteilia cochillia sporangia through the exhalant siphon into the environment, packaged as faeces. Using light microscopy observations on fresh samples, imprints and histology, we also describe a thick (ca. 5 µm) transparent envelope covering the sporangia that has not been reported previously. The massive release of encapsulated sporangia reported here ensures that millions of infective stages of M. cochillia cycle through the environment and become available for infection. The elucidation of the role played by the sporangia envelope would be of utmost importance for the understanding M. cochillia life cycle.

Temporal dynamics of infection of cockles Cerastoderma edule with the protistan parasite Minchinia tapetis (Rhizaria: Haplosporida) in Galicia (NW Spain).

Uninucleate and binucleate cells and multinucleate plasmodia of a haplosporidan-like protist associated with heavy haemocytic infiltration were observed in histological sections of cockles, Cerastoderma edule, from the Ría de Noia (Galicia, NW Spain) in the course of a cockle health surveillance programme. Molecular assays provided identification of this protist as Minchinia tapetis, which we thus record from a new host. Prevalence of M. tapetis as high as 93% was recorded but infection intensity was low to moderate, never heavy, and abnormally high cockle mortality was not observed in the ria by shellfishers. A significant positive correlation was found between M. tapetis prevalence and sea water temperature. Sea water temperature increase associated with climate change might contribute to increase the prevalence of this infection in cockles and, as a consequence, this parasite may be considered a threat for cockle production.

Detection of haplosporidian protistan parasites supports an increase to their known diversity, geographic range and bivalve host specificity.

Haplosporidian protist parasites are a major concern for aquatic animal health, as they have been responsible for some of the most significant marine epizootics on record. Despite their impact on food security, aquaculture and ecosystem health, characterizing haplosporidian diversity, distributions and host range remains challenging. In this study, water filtering bivalve species, cockles Cerastoderma edule, mussels Mytilus spp. and Pacific oysters Crassostrea gigas, were screened using molecular genetic assays using deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) markers for the Haplosporidia small subunit ribosomal deoxyribonucleic acid region. Two Haplosporidia species, both belonging to the Minchinia clade, were detected in C. edule and in the blue mussel Mytilus edulis in a new geographic range for the first time. No haplosporidians were detected in the C. gigas, Mediterranean mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis or Mytilus hybrids. These findings indicate that host selection and partitioning are occurring amongst cohabiting bivalve species. The detection of these Haplosporidia spp. raises questions as to whether they were always present, were introduced unintentionally via aquaculture and or shipping or were naturally introduced via water currents. These findings support an increase in the known diversity of a significant parasite group and highlight that parasite species may be present in marine environments but remain undetected, even in well-studied host species.

A Useful SNP Panel to Distinguish Two Cockle Species, Cerastoderma edule and C. glaucum, Co-Occurring in Some European Beds, and Their Putative Hybrids.

Cockles are highly appreciated mollusks and provide important services in coastal areas. The two European species, edible (Cerastodermaedule) and lagoon (Cerastodermaglaucum) cockles, are not easily distinguishable, especially when young. Interestingly, the species show different resistance to Marteilia cochillia, the parasite responsible for marteiliosis outbreaks, which is devastating cockle production in some areas. C.edule is severely affected by the parasite, while C. glaucum seems to be resistant, although underlying reasons are still unknown. Hybrids between both species might be interesting to introgress allelic variants responsible for tolerance, either naturally or through artificial selection, from lagoon into edible cockle. Here, we used 2b restriction site-associated DNA sequencing (2b-RAD) to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) diagnostic for cockle discrimination (fixed for alternative allelic variants). Among the nine diagnostic SNPs selected, seven were validated using a SNaPshot assay in samples covering most of the distribution range of both species. The validated SNPs were used to check cockles that were suggested to be hybrids by a claimed diagnostic tool based on the internal transcribed spacers of the ribosomal RNA. Although these were shown to be false positives, we cannot rule out the fact that hybrids can occur and be viable. The SNP tool here developed will be valuable for their identification and management.

Interactive effects of contamination and trematode infection in cockles biochemical performance.

Anthropogenic activities, especially those involving substances that pollute the environment can interfere with bivalve populations, as well as parasitism, a fundamental ecological interaction often neglected. In marine environments, organisms are concomitantly exposed to pollutants and parasites, a combination with synergistic, antagonistic or additive effects representing a potential threat to aquatic communities sustainability. In the present study, Cerastoderma edule (the edible cockle)-Himasthla elongata (trematode) was used as host-parasite model. Cockles are worldwide recognized as good sentinel and bioindicator species and can be infected by several trematodes, the most abundant macroparasites in coastal waters. Tested hypotheses were: 1) cockles exposed to increasing parasite pressure will present greater stress response; 2) cockles exposure to arsenic (single concentration test: 5.2 µg L-1) will change parasite infection success and cockles stress response to infection. Arsenic was used for being one of the most common pollutants in the world and stress response assessed using biochemical markers of glycogen content, metabolism, antioxidant activity and cellular damage. Results showed that intensity of parasite pressure was positively correlated to biochemical response, mainly represented by higher metabolic requirements. Contamination did not affect parasite infection success. Compared to arsenic, trematode infection alone exerted a stronger impact: higher glycogen storage, metabolism and cellular damage and antioxidant activity inhibition. In interaction, parasitism and arsenic reduced hosts metabolism and cellular damage. Therefore, to a certain extent and in a contamination scenario, cockles may benefit from trematode infection, working as a protection for the pollutant accumulation in the organisms, reducing overall ROS production, which can consequently led to less toxic effects. These findings highlighted the deleterious effects of trematode infection in their hosts and showed the importance of including parasitology in ecotoxicological studies.

Trematode infection modulates cockles biochemical response to climate change.

Resulting mainly from atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) build-up, seawater temperature rise is among the most important climate change related factors affecting costal marine ecosystems. Global warming will have implications on the water cycle, increasing the risk of heavy rainfalls and consequent freshwater input into the oceans but also increasing the frequency of extreme drought periods with consequent salinity increase. For Europe, by the end of the century, projections describe an increase of CO2 concentration up to 1120 ppm (corresponding to 0.5 pH unit decrease), an increase in the water temperature up to 4 °C and a higher frequency of heavy precipitation. These changes are likely to impact many biotic interactions, including host-parasite relationships which are particularly dependent on abiotic conditions. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that the edible cockle, Cerastoderma edule, exposed to different salinity, temperature and pH levels as proxy for climate change, modify the infection success of the trematode parasite Himasthla elongata, with consequences to cockles biochemical performance. The results showed that the cercariae infection success increased with acidification but higher biochemical alterations were observed in infected cockles exposed to all abiotic experimental stressful conditions tested. The present study suggested that changes forecasted by many models may promote the proliferation of the parasites infective stages in many ecosystems leading to enhanced transmission, especially on temperate regions, that will influence the geographical distribution of some diseases and, probably, the survival capacity of infected bivalves.

A Minchinia mercenariae-like parasite infects cockles Cerastoderma edule in Galicia (NW Spain).

The cockle Cerastoderma edule fishery has traditionally been the most important shellfish species in terms of biomass in Galicia (NW Spain). In the course of a survey of the histopathological conditions affecting this species in the Ria of Arousa, a haplosporidan parasite that had not been observed in Galicia was detected in one of the most productive cockle beds of Galicia. Uni- and binucleate cells and multinucleate plasmodia were observed in the connective tissue mainly in the digestive area, gills and gonad. The parasite showed low prevalence, and it was not associated with abnormal cockle mortality. Molecular identification showed that this parasite was closely related to the haplosporidan Minchinia mercenariae that had been reported infecting hard clams Mercenaria mercenaria from the Atlantic coast of the United States. The molecular characterization of its SSU rDNA region allowed obtaining a fragment of 1,796 bp showing 98% homology with M. mercenariae parasite. Phylogenetic analysis supported this identification as this parasite was clustered in the same clade as M. mercenariae from the United States and other M. mercenariae-like sequences from the UK, with bootstrap value of 99%. The occurrence of M. mercenariae-like parasites infecting molluscs outside the United States is confirmed.

Seasonal variation of transcriptomic and biochemical parameters of cockles (Cerastoderma edule) related to their infection by trematode parasites.

Bivalve populations are controlled by several biotic and abiotic factors. Parasitism is among the biotic factors but is often neglected. In the present study, we focused on the transcriptomic and biochemical responses of Cerastoderma edule when parasitized as first intermediate host by the trematode Bucephalus minimus (sporocyst, the most damaging stage), and taking into account seasonal patterns. In order to test the hypothesis that the presence of B. minimus compromises cockle regular gene expression and biochemical performance and increases their vulnerability to other parasite species infection, cockles were sampled every other month during one year in Arcachon Bay (French Atlantic coast). Overall, results showed that B. minimus induced its first intermediate host defence mechanism against oxidative stress (mainly at gene level), increased host metabolism and energy demand especially in summer (revealed at both gene and biochemical level, although without significant differences) and was accompanied by a higher metacercariae abundance. Results allowed to accept the posted hypothesis and to conclude that transcriptomic and biochemical markers can provide additional and ecologically relevant information about parasite effects on their hosts, reflecting the invasion effects of pathogens but also the environmental conditions that animals experience.

Parasites, pathological conditions and resistance to Marteilia cochillia in lagoon cockle Cerastoderma glaucum from Galicia (NW Spain).

A histopathological survey revealed parasites and pathological conditions affecting lagoon cockles Cerastoderma glaucum along the Galician coast; serious pathological threats were not detected because the potentially pathogenic conditions (infections with a Marteilia-like parasite and bucephalid sporocysts, disseminated neoplasia and a condition involving large foci of heavy haemocytic reaction) were rare, while more prevalent parasites had negligible or limited pathogeny. Considering that C. edule and C. glaucum are sympatric in some Galician rias, it is remarkable that C. glaucum was not seriously affected by Marteilia cochillia while C. edule suffered an intense outbreak of this parasite associated with massive mortality. Comparison of the digestive gland between cockle species showed co-occurrence of digestive tubules in different phases, with abundant disintegrated tubules, in the case of C. glaucum, while C. edule showed synchronicity and absence of fully disintegrated tubules; these differences could influence their susceptibility to M. cochillia because the main location of this parasite in common cockles is the epithelia of the digestive gland. Moreover, the observation of histological sections through the digestive gland easily allows differentiating the 2 cockle species.

Review: Bucephalus minimus, a deleterious trematode parasite of cockles Cerastoderma spp.

Trematodes are the most prevalent and abundant macroparasites in coastal waters. They display a complex life cycle with alternation of free-living and parasitic stages generally involving three host species. The most deleterious stage is in the first intermediate host (a mollusc) where the parasite penetrates as miracidium larvae and asexually multiplicates in sporocysts/rediae to provide cercariae larvae. However, due to basic low prevalence in ecosystems, this system remains difficult to study. Taking the example of the cockle (Cerastoderma edule), an exploited bivalve along North-Eastern Atlantic coasts, and Bucephalus minimus, its most prevalent parasite as first intermediate host, we summarised the 51 most relevant papers (1887-2015). Besides, a 16-year monthly monitoring was performed at Banc d'Arguin (Atlantic coast of France), and allowed to obtain a sufficient number of infected cockles (276 out of 5,420 individuals) in order to provide new information concerning this parasite/host system. Sporocysts (diameter 80-500 µm) and developing cercariae (length 300-500 µm) are not visible before cockle reaches 16-mm shell length and then prevalence increases with host size. Seasonality of infection was not observed but variation of prevalence was significant among years and negatively correlated to the temperature of the former year, which could correspond to the period of infection by miracidium. Seven other species of trematode were identified in cockles as second intermediate host. For six of them, metacercariae abundance per individual was 2 to 12 folds higher in B. minimus-infected cockles, exacerbating the potential negative impact on host. From the parasite point of view, metacercariae can be considered as hitchhikers, taking advantage of the abnormal migration of B. minimus-infected cockles to the sediment surface where they become more vulnerable to predators that are also the final hosts of many of these parasites.

Update of information on perkinsosis in NW Mediterranean coast: Identification of Perkinsus spp. (Protista) in new locations and hosts.

This study addressed perkinsosis in commercially important mollusc species in the western Mediterranean area. Perkinsus olseni was found in Santa Gilla Lagoon (Sardinia) infecting Ruditapes decussatus, Cerastoderma glaucum and Venerupis aurea, in Balearic Islands infecting Venus verrucosa and in Delta de l'Ebre (NE Spain) parasitising Ruditapes philippinarum and R. decussatus. Perkinsus mediterraneus was detected infecting Ostrea edulis from the Gulf of Manfredonia (SE Italy) and Alacant (E Spain), V. verrucosa and Arca noae from Balearic Islands and Chlamys varia from Balearic Islands, Alacant and Delta de l'Ebre.

Cockle Cerastoderma edule fishery collapse in the Ría de Arousa (Galicia, NW Spain) associated with the protistan parasite Marteilia cochillia.

The highest shellfishery catch in Galicia (NW Spain) has traditionally been cockle Cerastoderma edule. The shellfish bed located in Lombos do Ulla (Ría de Arousa) used to be among those with the highest cockle production; however, cockle mortality rate increased sharply in this bed in April 2012, reaching 100% in May 2012. Salinity and temperature were discounted as potential causes of the mortality. Marteiliosis, which was first detected in February 2012 and reached 100% prevalence in April 2012, was identified as the most probable cause. Marteiliosis had never been detected in Galician cockles, but extensive surveillance of the Galician coast in May to July 2012 detected marteiliosis in most cockle beds of the Ría de Arousa, whereas it was not found in other rías; 2 mo later, the cockle catch in the Ría de Arousa became negligible. Examination of the aetiological agent of marteiliosis with light and transmission electron microscopy supported its assignation to the genus Marteilia; morphological features showed similarity, but not complete identity, with the recently described species M. cochillia Carrasco et al., 2013. Regarding its molecular characterisation, a consensus sequence of 4433 bp containing a partial sequence of the intergenic spacer region, the complete 18S rRNA gene and a partial sequence of the first internal transcribed spacer region was obtained. The obtained sequences were compared with those available for Marteilia spp. and other Paramyxida. Molecular data support that this parasite corresponds to the species M. cochillia, and a PCR assay was designed for its specific diagnosis. The association of huge cockle mortality with M. cochillia infection urges extreme caution to avoid spreading this disease.